Quick-acting launching device for boats and the like



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- H. C. HARTZOG QUICK-ACTING LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR BOATS AND L Filed May 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 23, 4 H. c. HARTZOG 2,349,258 QUICK-ACTING LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR BOATS AND THE L IKE , 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14 HAW T206 w m w w m.

Patented May 23, 1944 UNITED s'rATEs OFFICE:

QUICK-ACTING LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR BOATS THE LIKE Harrison C. Hartzog, Port Lavaca, Tex. Application May 14, 1942, Serial N0. 442,969

5. la ms- This invention relates to a launching device for boats and the like, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efficient means for facilitating the launching of beach landing boats, submarine chasers, life-boats, launches and small boats of any character, from a carrier of any type such as a war or merchant ship. V V

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efiicient launching device which may be supported at the side of a carrier ship, and which may be operatedin a manner to instantaneously and safely swing a small boat well away from the sides of a carrier ship and deposit the small boat upon the. surface of the water where the small boat may be in a position to immediately speed away from the carrier ship toward its target or other objec tive.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an edge elevational view launching device in a retracted position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the launching device in a retracted position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the launching device in a retracted position; p

Figure 4 is an edge elevational view showing the launching devicein an'extended or boatdischarging position;

Figure 5 is an edge elevational view of a modiof the sailing I fied form, th parts being shown in a retracted v position;

Figure 6 is an edge elevationalview of a modified type of launching device wherein the upper end thereof is substantially flush with a supporting deck;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a boat cradle having a check means suspended therefrom;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary edge elevational view of a boat-releasing device and check car ried by the cradle; and

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view takenon line 9--9 of Figure 8.

By referring to the drawings, it wil1 be seen that A designates a supporting or carrier ship of any type which supports a supporting frame II] in a manner whereby the frame 10 may be removed from the ships side when desired. In the form shown, the frame [0 is provided with retaining hooks II which fit in suitable receiving apertures formed in the deck of the carrier ship so that the frame 10 may be removed when and if desired. It should be understood that the frame In may be hung from a dock or other support Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The frame Ill preferably comprises an elongated vertically extending structure having an upper transverseihorizontal bar 9 and .a lower transverse bar 12 connected by two vertical side bars or rails l8. Anintermediate transverse horizontal bar I4 is located just above the lower bar i2. A lower U-shaped yoke I5 is hinged to the lower bar i2, and an upper U-shaped yoke I6 is hinged to the intermediate bar I l. The outer ends of the yokes l5 and it are hingedly connected in proper spaced relation to a vertical boat-carrying frame IT in a manner to swing the frame I! downwardlyand outwardly away from the supporting frame'lfl when the frame I! is released. The frame I! carries boat cradle arms I8 which project outwardly of the frame I! and are adapted to releasablysupport a boat B. A suitable latch of any desired type is carried by the frame I0 and is adapted to engage the frame H to releasably hold the frame I! ma retracted position. In the drawing a conventional hook I9 is illustrated for this purpose. A suitable cable and grapple 2i] may be employed to raise the frame I! to a retracted position after the boat B has been launched'or when it may be desired to do so. I p

In order to break the fall of the boat B and cushion the contact of the boat B with the water while launching, damper plates 2| of suitable character are carried by the bottom yoke I 5, upon suitable supporting rods 22f These plates 2| may be of suitable size and shape in proportion to the weight of the frame I! and boat 13 to constitute a proper damper to check the force of contact of the bottom of the'boat with the water in" which the boat B is being launched before the boat B contacts the water.

In Figure 5 there is shown a modified form wherein the supporting frame HP carries a boatcarrying frame H in a manner similar to the structure above described, but a suitable check 23 engages the two frames to provide a check or damper to retard the outward swing of the frame I! relative to the frame Ill The check 23 is provided with suitable bleeder openings 23*- at the opposite ends thereof.

In Figure 6 there is illustrated a modified form wherein a supporting frame W is carried by a carrier ship C, the upper end of the frame Ni extending substantially flush with the deck of the carrier ship C. The boat-carrying frame ll is hinged to and carried by the frame lfl in a manner previously described relative to the previous figures in the drawings. 1

Various forms of checks may be provided to retard the fall or smashing contact of the boat With the Water while launching. In Figure 7 one form of structure is illustrated embodying a hanger 24 which is suspended from the cradle arms I8 which arms are carried. by the frame 25. v The frame 25 is similar to the boat-carrying frame ll. An apertured bridge 26 is supported between the hanger 24 below the arms It to check the fall of the boat which is adapted to be carried by the arms Iii as the frame '25 swings to a launching position.

In the form shown in Figure 6, the cradle 18* is supported approximately flush with thedeck of the ship 0, so that the boat to be launched may be easily moved from a position on deck to a position upon the cradle I8 In fact, the parts may be so mounted as to permit the launching of a series of boats one after another, from the same launching device simply by moving one boat from the deck to the cradle, then launching the boat, then raising the launching device to receive a second boat and other boats in sequence, until the entire series of boats have been launched.

A further form of check is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, wherein a hanger26 is suspended below the cradle arms 21. Damper plates 28 are carried by the bottom of the hanger 26, and one of these plates 28 is apertured, as at 29. This aperture is normally closed by means of an upwardly opening gate valve 38. This valve t actuates a pull rod 3! which in turn operates a bell crank lever 32. The lever 32 is pivoted upon the cradle 27, and is connected to a pull pin 33 which extends through an apertured plate 34 secured to the bottom of the boat D. As the plates 28 strike the water in which the boat D is to be launched, the water will force the gate valve 36 open thereby extracting the pin 33 from the apertured plate 34 and thereby automatically unlocking the boat D fro m'the cradle arm 2?.

Before launching the boat B, the engine is warmed-up and running, and is properly manned so that at the instant the boat B strikes the.

water upon launching, the boat 13 may get underway and speed at once toward its objective and away from the carrier ship A, thereby avoiding danger of crashing against the carrier ship. In launching the boat B, the frame I1 is released at the proper time with regard to the action of the water to reduce the danger of crashing to a minimum.

Having described the invention, what I claim 1s:

1. A launching device of the class described comprising a supporting frame, adapted to be carried by a support such as a carrier, ship, dock, and the like, a boat-carrying frame hinged near the lower end of the supporting frame and being adapted to swing downwardly and away from said supporting frame to a boat-discharging position for quickly depositing a boat carried thereby upon the surface of the water beyond the support, and damper plates carried by the boatcarrying frame for contacting the water in which the boat is to be launched prior to the contact of the boat with the water to check the fall of the boat-carrying frame and protect the launched boat from injury.

2. A launching device of the class described comprising a supporting frame adapted to be carried by a support such as a carrier ship, dock, and the like, a boat-carrying frame hinged near the lower end of the supporting frame and being adapted to swing downwardly and away from said supporting frame to a boat di's'charging position for quickly depositing a boat carried thereby upon the surface of the water beyond the support, damper plates carried by the boat-carrying frame for contacting the water in which the boat is to be launched prior to the contact of the boat with the Water to check the fall of the boatcarrying frame and protect the launched boat from injury, and means operable by said damper plates for automatically releasing a boat carried by the boat-carrying frame when said plates contact the water.

3. A launching device of the class described comprising 'a supporting frame, a boat-carrying frame hinged to the supporting" franieand adapted to swing outwardly'away' from the supporting frame, means for releasably holding the boatcarrying frame in a retractedposition and being adapted to permit said boat-carrying frameto swing outwardly and awayfrorn the. supporting frame when released for quickly and safely placing a boat upon thesurface of water beyond the side of the supporting. frame, and aboat-carrying cradle carried by the boat-carrying frame, the boat-carrying frame rigidly supporting said cradle at all times to hold'theboatin a substantially horizontal planev against, .independent swinging movement with respect to the boatcarrying frame as the boat-carrying frame is swung outwardly, 1

4. A launching device of the class described comprising a supporting frame, a=boat-carrying frame mounted to rigidly support. a boat to be launched, and superimposed yoke frames hingedly connecting the boat-carrying frame with the supporting frame for swingingthe boat-carrying frame outwardly, downwardly and away from the supporting frame and holding the boat-carrying frame in vertical parallel relation with said supporting frame at all times during the swinging movement of the. boat-carrying frame, and boat-engaging means carried by the boat-carrying frame for holding a'boat upon the boatcarrying frame against independent swinging movement as the, boat-carrying frame is swung outwardly. l

5. A launching device-of theclass described comprising a supporting lframe adapted to be carried by a, support such as a carrier ship, dock, and the like, a boat-carrying frame hingednear the lower end of the supporting frame'and being adapted to swing downwardly and away from said supporting frame to a boat-discharging position for quickly depositing a boat carried thereby upon the surface of the water beyond the support, and check means adapted to contact the water in which the boat is to be launched to check the fall of the boat and protect the launched boat from injury. 1

HARRISON C. HARTZOG. 

